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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Alexandra fare during the night after learning of Jordan's fate?

2. What does Jordan say about himself?

3. What does Sir Roderick Carstairs think Elizabeth should do concerning Hawthorne?

4. For what do Jordan and Alexandra prepare?

5. Why didn't Jordan ask for Elizabeth's hand in marriage?

Short Essay Questions

1. Briefly describe the discussion about caterpillars that Alexandra and her grandfather have.

2. What does Alexandra tell Jordan when she is finally able to speak with him?

3. What conversation do Mrs. Lawrence and her daughter have about Will Helmsley?

4. What is the history between Elizabeth Grangerfield and Jordan Hawthorne?

5. How do the attackers react to Alexandra, and what does she do?

6. How does Alexandra change physically over the next few months?

7. What does Alexandra get on the way to Hawthorne?

8. What does Alexandra hear that spurs her into action?

9. What does the Dowager say to Alexandra about Alexandra's future and what is Alexandra's response?

10. What does Mrs. Lawrence think will save her family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation whereby when Alexandra begins to pry into Joran's life, she sees that there is more to him than meets the eye.The irony in this is that Jordan is thinking the same thing of her. Discuss two other incidences of irony in Something Wonderful.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols found in Something Wonderful.

3. Discuss the use of foreshadowing in literature. What is the purpose of foreshadowing? Cite 3 examples of foreshadowing and how it is used to indicate events to come in Something Wonderful.

Essay Topic 2

Something Wonderful is an historical romance. Discuss the following:

1. Define the word "genre" in the context of literary criticism.

2. Why do you think fiction is categorized by genre?

3. Does it help to know how a book is categorized as to its genre before reading it? Explain.

4. Modern historical romance is often considered inferior to what are considered "the classics." Why do you think this is so? Do you believe a book such as Something Wonderful is inferior to something such as A Tale of Two Cities? Explain.

5. What is your favorite genre and why.

Essay Topic 3

Something Wonderful takes place in and about London, England in the early 1800s. Discuss the following:

1. Research and discuss the political and cultural setting of Europe in the early 1800s. How do you think the cultural milieu informs the plot of Something Wonderful? Explain.

2. Discuss the lives of Jordan and his social group in light of the class structure in England at the time of Something Wonderful. Do their behaviors seem superficial considering that the Napoleonic Wars are ongoing?

3. How would the plot be impacted if the setting were in the United States at that time? How about in England in the 21st century?

4. How important do you think it is to understand the setting of a particularly book? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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